5 London experiences to bookmark for this winter

‘Tis the season to be jolly

The stage is set—streets are shimmering with fairy lights, winter markets are luring the crowds with irresistible offers, and the air, above all, smells like Christmas. Yes, much like the summer, winter is a magical time to visit London, thanks to festivities that deck the entire city in a celebratory mood. How to soak in the best of the season, you ask? Here are 5 experiences that will make you want to book a return ticket to the capital right away:

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Winter Wonderland

London winter’s ‘place to be’, for 11th time in a row, is Hyde Park which plays host to an extravagant free-entry family event called Winter Wonderland. Think ice skating (the largest in UK, that too), a giant Ferris wheel offering stunning views of the skyline, over 200 charming chalets overflowing with festive goods, and a lot more.

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Christmas at Kew

If you ever dreamt of being in a fairytale, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew is where you should be. It hosts a popular after-dark Christmas event where you follow a scenic mile-long trail illuminated by hundreds of glowing globes winding through the trees, including an enormous shimmering Sledge Tree made of more than 360 wooden Santa’s sledges.

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Hogwarts in the snow

Blame the Harry Potter series for making you romanticise the winter so much—the grand feast, Yule Ball, the castle covered in a blanket of snow, et al. But now, it’s all coming to the Warner Bros. Studio for real. And yes, like you’d expect, the Gryffindor common room is filled with Christmas treats too.

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Shop till you drop

Come Boxing Day (26 December), many high street stores offer great bargains until the middle of January. Head to King’s Road for trendy boutiques, Bond Street for luxury lables, Tottenham Court Road for electronic gadgets, among others.

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Bring in the New Year

On New Year’s Eve, hear the Big Ben chime at midnight, followed by London’s spectacular fireworks display. There’s plenty to do in lieu as well—party all night at a club, enjoy a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant or board a romantic dinner cruise down the Thames.

To get you started with the plan, fly to London with Virgin Atlantic. With spacious seats, generous baggage allowance, 300 hours of award-winning inflight entertainment, on-board WiFi and choice of three delicious meals including an Indian vegetarian option, there’s no way you should look any further. To fly a 787 Dreamliner direct to London, book your tickets here.

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